Games are characterized by tools and rules. These rules can be altered or changed, but are usually immutable. For example, baseball can be played with real baseballs, a wiffleball, or just three bases. Although the tools and rules of games are sometimes altered, meta-rules, which determine the time-keeping system, rights and responsibilities of players, and preset boundaries, are often mutable. In other words, the game’s goal is to achieve a certain number of points or complete the game.
The role of games in socialization has been the subject of debate for decades. According to Roberts and Sutton-Smith, games serve as ways to soothe internal conflicts and help us cope with social pressures. In societies where children must obey the rule of the law, games that allow children to exercise strategic thinking may be helpful. However, in societies where children must be obedient, such games can also provide adults with power over others. Similarly, games of chance and luck may be played by people who would otherwise have no responsibility, such as teenagers.
Games serve as a form of communication, but they can also act as tools for socialization. In societies where children are subject to strict obedience, strategy games can provide an escape from these social obligations. Moreover, they can provide adults with a sense of power over other people, making them feel more comfortable in social situations. As a result, games are often a good outlet for internal conflict. They can also help adults develop interpersonal skills, as they allow them to form relationships with others.
The creation of games is a constant struggle between the desires of the creator and those of the audience. The lack of a satisfying relationship between the creator and the audience results in two types of failure. In the first instance, the creator creates a work that reflects her ideas, whereas in the second, the creator copies an existing game that failed to meet the expectations of the audience. The latter type of failure is more likely to lead to a clone of the original.
The socialization process can be a difficult process. The creator may be motivated by the desire to be a leader or a savior. The game may be an escape from the responsibility of a leader. The creator may have to change his or her approach to a new situation and avoid conflict. The latter scenario is likely to lead to the development of a new game, while the former will merely stifle the emotions of the audience.
Multiplayer games involve several players. They may involve teams or coalitions. It is difficult to analyze a game with so many players. Some examples include competitive sports and board games. Some of these games are multi-player. For example, association football is played worldwide. Regardless of the type of game, there are commonalities between games. They are generally interactive and goal-oriented. Furthermore, they are typically supported by a fictional context. The player may become emotionally attached to the game’s outcomes.